Padcaster VERSE review
Face it, one of the toughest things about recording video on a smartphone is stabilization. Indeed many of the higher-end devices we purchase today have optical image stabilization and a select few of them are also able to level out your videos. But, if we’re being honest, it’s not easy to hold a phone with one hand and record professional-grade video.
Another issue we face when recording with our phones is the quality of the microphone. Few things ruin a shot like the sound of wind hitting your phone. Worse yet, it stinks to capture an HD or 4K video that doesn’t properly pick up audio. The same argument might be had about lighting. That LED flash on your phone might be a little too much for the shot your trying to nab.
The Padcaster VERSE aims to fix those pain problems as well as a few others. Not only does it work with smartphones, it also does the trick with tablets as well. What does it do? For starters, it lets you lock in your device in a way that doesn’t cover up the microphone or camera. Next, it gives users two side grips to hold onto. Doing so ensures you have a more secure grip on your device with less chance of shakiness.
Next, the VERSE allows for optional accessories which can enhance your video recording. Want to add on a secondary light source? Maybe you need a better microphone that pulls out cleaner and clearer audio. Perhaps you’d like both. The unique design of the frame lets users add in up to five components through the cold shoe slots. Moreover, there are a dozen (yes, 12) threaded slots (1/4″-20) for teleprompters and other accessories.
Given the Padcaster VERSE centers around video, you’d not be surprised to learn it also houses a standard tripod mount. Yep, this whole rig can be secured to your existing tripod or monopod.
Thanks to the polycarbonate material of the VERSE, the entire setup is lightweight and easy to hold. Even with a few pieces added on, it’s comfortable to hold. Taking it on and off of mount is a breeze and using it gives users an almost Steadicam-like experience.
We’ve been playing with the Padcaster VERSE in the office for the better part of a few weeks now and really enjoy the concept. Using various phones along the way, it’s easy to swap out a daily driver for something that offers better video. There are few moving parts here; most of the movement comes in securing and releasing various add-on pieces.
The Padcaster VERSE recently closed its Kickstarter campaign to the tune of nearly $70,000. After spending time with one it makes complete sense as to why it was funded almost three times over.
Our suggestion to you is to start with the bare-bones unit and add on what you need at a later date. Simply placing your phone in the VERSE might be all you’re gonna want in order to capture the video you’d like. But, should you desire a little more, we can personally attest the quality of the other pieces.
The YT-1300 Shotgun Mic and Audio Interface were easy to set up and use and provided a much enhanced sound for videos in all environments. The XP-38 LED light was convenient to have for adding light to a source and we appreciated being able to dial it up or down to match the setting.
Although the campaign is over, you learn much more about the Padcaster VERSE by visiting its Kickstarter page. And, should you want to get your hands on one, the first batches are expected to roll out in July. The basic unit should start at $99 once it’s ready to go. That’s just a little higher than we’d expect for it, but the flexibility is there for someone who’s serious about their video.
Wayv Adventurer Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Wayv
Gone are the days when microwaves were relegated to the kitchen — or even the house. Startup Wayv, in partnership with NXP Semiconductors, has created the $199/£135/AU$275 Wayv Adventurer, a handheld cooker that can go anywhere you go.
Intended for use during outdoor activities, as a backup cooker for busy parents in transit and even for defense and humanitarian purposes, the 200W thermos-esque Adventurer is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and is supposed to work for 30 minutes or more on a single charge. Wayv claims the Adventurer can work with solar energy, too.
While the team hasn’t shared details on availability just yet, this $199 gadget has caught my interest. As someone who occasionally camps in areas where fires are banned, a device like this could really come in handy.
Other cool tech:
- Portable thermoelectric generator powers your devices
- Mom’s wilderness camping cars
- Appliance Science: How solar panels convert light into electricity
- Microwave buying guide
Weight is a slight concern, though. At 2.6 pounds (1.2 kilograms), I certainly wouldn’t consider it an essential for a long-distance thru-hike, but it would probably be fine for a shorter trek.
And with just 200W of power, it will likely take longer than a regular microwave to heat up food or a drink (a traditional microwave typically has 600 to 1,200W; check out my microwave buying guide for more details). That makes the 30-minute battery limit seem a little low. Still, I’m definitely interested in taking one on the road to see just how well it works.
2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD 4×4 Off Road review – Roadshow
The Good The 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD 4×4 Off Road carries with it a tradition of off-road excellence, without sacrificing much in on-road comfort. A variety of aftermarket vendors provide numerous options for customization.
The Bad The six-speed automatic transmission searches for the correct gear at lower speeds. Real-time traffic alerts are often wrong.
The Bottom Line If you’re looking for a reliable truck to carry you from the city to the playgrounds of the deserts or mountains, it’s tough to beat the 2016 Tacoma. Consumers would be well-served by sampling the six-speed manual as well as the automatic before making a purchase.
Since its debut in 1995, the Toyota Tacoma has been synonymous with off-road capability. From casual weekend warriors to serious dirt races like the Baja 1,000, you can find stock and modified “Tacos” challenging the desert at every turn.
But how did they get to the dirt? More than likely, they had to drive on the pavement. This week, I had the 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD 4×4 Off Road, and while I didn’t have the opportunity to test its mettle in its natural habitat, my colleague, Antuan Goodwin was lucky enough to get the Tacoma out in the dirt with professional drivers from Toyota. Here’s what he had to say about its performance:
“Toyota wanted to demonstrate how Crawl Control used in concert with the Tacoma’s low-range transfer case to to scale a steep rock incline. We lined the Tacoma up with what looked like a rock face so steep that we could barely climb it on foot holding a rope, and activated the Crawl.
Antuan Goodwin/CNET
“Most 2016 Toyota Tacoma’s have a new, front air dam that boosts fuel economy on the highway, but is situated far enough back to not affect the 29-degree approach clearance. However, the Taco TRD Off-road lacks this bit and boasts a 32-degree approach angle.
“It would appear that we’d need every one of those degrees as the digital inclinometer located in the dashboard display sharply rose and then pegged at 35 degrees, even as the incline grew more severe and nothing but sky was visible out of the Taco’s windshield. The truck continued to angle upward until we heard the tow hitch at the tail end scrape slightly on the ground below as the climb continued. Toyota’s guides reckoned the steepest part of the climb was easily more than 40 degrees.”
Cabin comforts
But while Antuan got down and dirty, I kept things clean with a 1,500 mile road trip.
Literally hopping up behind the wheel because of the 9.4 inches of ground clearance, I settled into the cloth seats nicely. The interior is built for ruggedness, not luxury, but it still offers up some impressive features.
The maps for navigation are simple, but crisply rendered. Operation is smooth and quick.
Antuan Goodwin/CNET
A 6.1-inch touchscreen is standard, but the TRD makes the jump to a larger 7-inch screen with navigation. Toyota’s Entune system is perhaps the most responsive I’ve seen in quite some time. Inputs onto the touchscreen were instantaneous, and the system switched between the home screen, apps and navigation quickly and easily. The screen can get a little crowded at times, and I noticed that the traffic guidance was often wrong, showing green while I was stopped dead in traffic, and showing red when I was happily cruising at 65 mph.
As expected, Bluetooth and USB connectivity are also available. It was a snap to pair my phone and sound quality was excellent. Entune quickly recognized my phone through the USB connection, and it was easy to navigate to my music and podcasts.
@mmmotorsports
Emme’s
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The Tacoma also has Qi wireless charging, but iPhones aren’t compatible with that technology yet. There aren’t too many driver’s aids save for a back-up camera, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. All are welcome in the Tacoma, as it’s larger than many people are used to handling.
The interior is not a place you’d be afraid to get dirty, but it’s still a vaguely comfortable place to spend a commute. Road noise is not much of a problem, though you will hear the roar of the V-6, even over the stereo. The seats are comfortable but neither they nor the steering wheel offer much in the way of adjustability. A GoPro mount is built into the windshield for those extreme wheelers.
Google and Levis are releasing their smart jacket early next year
Google and Levis announced a partnership at Google I/O last year that would bring “smart clothing” to the market using a technology codenamed Project Jacquard. The tech, which is basically composed of conductive fabric woven into the garment to create an interactive patch that senses touch, pressure and even your hand’s position before you touch the fabric. It’s a wild idea, and this year Google’s Advanced Technology and Products (ATAP) group is showing it off in an upcoming product: the Levis Commuter jacket with Jacquard technology built right in.
As explained at Google I/O this morning, the jacket contains a weave of the Jacquard interactive threading on the left arm, and there’s a little Bluetooth-enabled loop you connect to the cuff of your jacket. That cuff lets your phone talk to the jacket, and you can configure exactly what gestures you want to work with which apps.
The on-stage demo showed that you can swipe to adjust the volume on your music, tap to change tracks, and use another gesture to get navigation directions from Google Maps. The idea is the built in interactions that bikers can use to control their phones safely while riding, as the Commuter jacket was originally designed as a biking jacket.
The jacket itself is made using Levis’ standard manufacturing techniques and it doesn’t need to be treated with any special care. It can be washed and worn and treated like any other garment; you just need to remove the Bluetooth cuff before washing it. And it’s just the first garment that Levis is making with this tech — the company wants to make athletic and business wear as well.
Developers will have access to a host of APIs to make their apps work with Jacquard, and the hopes are that many apps will work with the garment by the time it ships. Right now it works with your calls and messaging apps, Google Play Music and Maps and third-party apps from Spotify and Strava.
The first Project Jacquard garment will ship from Levis in the spring 2017, but there’s a “beta test” that will launch this fall. If it works as well as it seemed to in today’s quick demo, it’ll definitely be worth keeping an eye on.
For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2016, follow along here.
Google aims to launch its consumer Project Ara phone in 2017
Despite some grim portents last year, Google’s “Project Ara” modular smartphone is far from dead. For starters, it now has its own business unit within Google’s mysterious Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group, and the nearly magical modular hardware we’ve been anticipating for years is indeed getting closer. ATAP Head of Creative Blaise Bertrand confirmed at Google’s I/O conference today that a new developer phone will be available in Q4 of this year with a “thin, light, beautiful” consumer Ara phone to follow in 2017.
Considering the ATAP team’s early progress, it seemed for a while that the predicted launch in 2016 was still a possibility. Still, some time away from the spotlight seems to have done the entire project a lot of good: The developer version showed off on stage today was considerably sleeker than iterations we’ve seen in the past. The modules used to be separated from each other by a thick metal grid, for instance, a technical necessity that didn’t look so great. Now, there’s essentially no boundary between the modules, lending the phone a more unified — if still eclectic — look. The first batch of modules seem mostly flush with each other (remember the old Ara’s camera hump?), which only helps the phone look more premium.
The new Ara frame supports up to six modules, which form what Google calls the “world’s first UniPro network” with the phone. Don’t worry: Future frames can be larger or smaller, and future modules will also be compatible with earlier Ara devices. Most importantly, it seems much, much easier to install modules and start using them. All you have to do is plug one in and you’re good to go — the process doesn’t even require a reboot. Ejecting them is simple too, if a little more involved: You’ll have to jump into the settings app and select which module you want to eject. Once done, the module physically pops up from the back of the device. You’ll even be able to eject modules with voice commands like “OK Google, eject the camera.”
Maybe the biggest thing to remember is that Project Ara is only as good as the modules available for it. Thankfully, the ATAP team still has a considerable number of partners either interested in, or actively developing, such smartphone add-ons. The list for now includes E Ink (for tiny secondary displays), Toshiba (maybe for additional storage?), Gotenna (for potential off-the-grid communications) and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (for God knows what). Alas, developers who sign up for their pre-release kits might not get to play with many of these — we’re told the dev units only ship with a few modules.
For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2016, follow along here.
Google controls a smartwatch with radar-powered finger gestures
Last year, Google gave us a taste of Project Soli, an effort to deliver radar-powered finger gesture control to wearables. Today, we got a closer look at how it could be implemented in real products, starting with a customized LG Urbane smartwatch. Google reps were able to control the watch simply by holding their fingers in front of it. As they moved closer, even more options opened up. As they moved away, the standard watch face returned. It’s just a demo right now, but Soli could solve the problem of controlling smart devices with tiny screens (or with no screens at all).
“We’ve developed a vision where the hand is the only controller you need,” said Ivan Poupyrev, a technical program lead at Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group. “One moment it’s a virtual dial, or slider, or a button.” Basically, Google is trying to create a whole new gesture language for every device in your home.
After rolling out a Project Soli alpha developer kit last year, Google selected 60 developers from a pool of 180 applicants to show off how their implementations. One group used Soli to used it to identify materials like copper, while another used it for 3D imaging. The coolest experiment, though, was using it as an in-car remote control. Imagine using gesture controls in your car by just having to raise your fingers from the steering wheel a bit.
While Google’s initial Soli dev kit worked, it was a bit of a pain. Lawyers made the Soli group put a warning on the back of the kits, because they drew an insane amount of power. They also had to be connected to powerful desktops to work. Over the past year, Google set about refining Soli’s design so it can be implemented anywhere.
“If you can make something work on a smartwatch, you can make it run any way you want,” Poupyrev said.
Together with Infineon, Google reduced Soli’s power consumption 22x, from 1.2 watts to 0.054 watts. They were able to make it run on standard mobile chips like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 and a recent Intel Atom chip by optimizing their code by 256x. And despite those tweaks, Soli still managed an 18,000 FPS radar rate.
Google initially had the Soli chip on the watchband of the LG Urbane, but that still looked pretty clunky. With some help from LG, they were able to fit it into a small area right below its screen. What’s really intriguing is the fine amount of control Soli’s gestures were able to detect — it can even tell when you’re rubbing your fingers together.
The Soli team also implemented its technology in a JBL speaker, which recognized larger finger and hand gestures. It lit up as someone’s hand drew near, and it was able to skip tracks with a simple thumbs-up gesture. It’s an example of how Soli could be used to control smart home devices from afar, without touching them.
So what’s next for Soli? We can expect to see more experimental implementations over time. And next year, Google will roll out a beta version of the Soli dev kit, which looks significantly smaller than what devs have today. It’ll be a while until this technology reaches typical consumer products, but Google’s progress over the past year is impressive all the same.
For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2016, follow along here.
Source: Project Soli
Google wants make it easier to craft apps that go big
The Google Play Store serves over a billion users globally a month, so the potential for an app to go big is nothing to sneeze at. Alas, the chances of that actually happening is a different story, which is why Google has released a bunch of updates to help developers craft apps to make more of an impact.
First off, Google is making it easier for would-be beta testers to find non-final software in the Play Store. For the first time, open beta apps will show up in your Play Store search results, with the most promising betas getting some spotlight in a new Early Access section. This latter effort is part of a bigger push to make it easy for users to find new, valuable apps — that same rationale is why Google is rolling out Collections in the Play Store. Looking for real estate apps, or apps that are great for young ones? Your search should become easier very shortly.
These changes are welcome additions for users, but most of the big news today is for developers who want to reach bigger audiences. New to the Play fold is a set of guidelines called “Building for Billions” meant to give devs insight into crafting apps for crucial emerging markets. And to help apps feel just a little neater internationally, the Play Store will automatically round prices converted between currencies. After all, a $1.99 app seems pretty normal in the US store, but seeing the equivalent ¥218.12 in the Japanese store lacks a certain panache: Now the Play Store will round it to ¥200.
For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2016, follow along here.
Motorola’s legendary RAZR flip phone is making a comeback
The year was 2004, and Motorola had just announced what was then an insanely thin flip phone, the RAZR V3. It was — and still is — a head-turner, and eventually over 130 million units were sold in total. Such were the glorious days of Motorola. Twelve years later, the now Lenovo-owned brand appears to be prepping a relaunch of this legendary model, according to its teaser video of a nostalgic walkthrough at a high school. “Flip back to the Razr days of yesteryear and get ready for the future.” Well, our money’s on an Android refresh of the RAZR flip phone, and we’re already quite stoked about that. The big unveil will take place at Lenovo Tech World on June 9th, and we have a feeling that this new RAZR may overshadow the new Moto X devices that are also expected there.
Via: T3
Source: Motorola (YouTube)
Uber says you’re willing to pay more when your phone is dying
It’s no surprise that Uber knows a lot about its customers based on their use of its ride-hailing app. Speaking with NPR’s Hidden Brain podcast this week, the company’s head of economic research Keith Chen revealed when we’re most likely to pay more for the service. As it turns out, riders tend to overlook the increased rates of surge pricing when their phone battery is running low.
Uber’s app has permission to access all sorts of things on your phone, including peeping how much juice is left on that battery. Why? Well, Chen says it’s so the app can switch over to a low-power mode, but he also mentioned that folks with a dying handset are okay with paying more. He also says that the company doesn’t use this information to jack up rates. Chen notes that in general, customers are fine with paying surge rates that are 1.9 and 2.1 times the regular price. However, when that amount sits at exactly twice the normal amount, there’s a dramatic decrease in ride scheduling.
If you want to hear the entire episode, you can listen right here:
Via: Gizmodo, Yahoo
Source: NPR
The TSA is failing spectacularly at cybersecurity
Five years of Department of Homeland Security audits have revealed, to the surprise of few and the dismay of all, that the TSA is as great at cybersecurity as it is at customer service.
The final report from the DHS Office of Inspector General details serious persistent problems with TSA staff’s handling of IT security protocols. These issues include servers running software with known vulnerabilities, no incident report process in place, and zero physical security protecting critical IT systems from unauthorized access.
What we’re talking about here are the very basics of IT security, and the TSA has been failing at these quite spectacularly for some time.
The report centers on the the way TSA (mis)handles security around the data management system which connects airport screening equipment to centralized servers. It’s called the Security Technology Integrated Program (STIP), and TSA has been screwing it up security-wise since at least 2012.
In essence, TSA employees haven’t been implementing STIP properly — that is, when they’ve been implementing it at all.
STIP manages data from devices we see while going through security lines at airports, namely explosive detection systems, x-ray and imaging machines, and credential authentication.
The bottom line is that the TSA hasn’t followed DHS guidelines for managing STIP equipment, and the risks are grave, as spelled out in the report. “Failure to comply with these guidelines increases the risk that baggage screening equipment will not operate as intended, resulting in potential loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of TSA’s automated explosive, passenger, and baggage screening programs.”
“System owners” were preventing patches
If you thought the long security lines, missed guns, sexually creepy staff, and copied master keys for your bags were bad, just wait until you see the laundry list of infosec basics that TSA staff let slide. IT Management Challenges Continue in TSA’s Security Technology Integrated Program is nothing to read before bed if you want to sleep the night before your next flight.
In addition to unpatched software and a lack of physical security that allowed non-TSA airport employees access to IT systems, the auditors found overheated server rooms and computers using unsupported systems — and much more.
The observed “lack of an established disaster recovery capability” noted by the OIG is particularly scary. If a data center was taken out by natural disaster, passenger screening and baggage info would be rendered inaccessible.
Not only that, but there was no security incident report process in place, and there was “little employee oversight in maintaining IT systems.” And, auditors were not pleased at all that non-TSA IT contractors maintained full admin control over STIP servers at airports.
Intended as a positive note in an otherwise terrifying cavalcade of opportunities to hack the hell out of any given airport’s security, IT Management Challenges Continue pointed out that TSA had indeed taken steps to resolve its STIP security issues.
“For example,” the report said, “according to a TSA staff member, system owners may no longer prevent implementation of software patches due to concerns with system performance.”
That sound you just heard was the collective rage-scream of 40,000 information security professionals who endured TSA security theatre to fly to RSA San Francisco last February, and the 20,000 expected to fly to Las Vegas for Black Hat and DEFCON in July.
All I’m saying is, I can’t imagine how outraged hackers and infosec workers will feel when they find out what’s in these reports. Not to mention normal people, too.
“12,282 high server vulnerabilities”
Papers in the DHS’s IT Management Challenges audits have reported these problems since 2012 and focused on specific airports. These include Chicago O’Hare (2012), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (2013), Dallas/Fort Worth (2014), and San Francisco (2015). This new report was based on an audit at DHS data centers at the Orlando International Airport “to further assess the extent of STIP deficiencies and the actions the TSA has taken to address them.”
As part of this year’s final report, auditors watched TSA staff as they scanned STIP servers located at two DHS data centers and the Orlando International Airport. The scans “detected a total of 12,282 high vulnerabilities on 71 of the 74 servers tested.”
One of the vulnerabilities sitting in plain sight dated back to 1999.
“Another cause for the software vulnerabilities,” the report explained, “was that TSA did not test IT security controls on STIP airport servers or IT components of TSEs prior to equipment deployment.”
Even the audit was incomplete due to TSA security failures. Eight STIP servers at Orlando couldn’t be scanned, as the TSA didn’t have any procedure in place to provide either remote scans, or reports.
The report concluded with 11 recommendations of super-basic IT security practices, like not deploying servers with known bugs and updating the damn software when they’re supposed to. These changes “should resolve many of the STIP IT security deficiencies identified in this and prior OIG reports,” DHS Inspector General John Roth said.
The TSA agreed to make changes, but that’s probably because TSA counted their options in this situation, and got to a total of one.
The DHS Office of Inspector General considers the issues to be open “until TSA provides supporting documentation that all corrective actions are completed.”
Yeah, proof is probably a good idea, considering these reports have been blistering the TSA’s cybersecurity hide with the same problems for five years running. The “strongly worded letter” approach doesn’t seem to be working all that well.
But times have changed. Maybe when these audits began, there just wasn’t enough cybersecurity awareness going around to slap TSA’s attention into the here and now of taking computer security seriously.
Like the saying goes, there’s no time to avoid a life-threatening cybersecurity incident like the present.
Images: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes (TSA x-ray); Jakub Pavlinec / Getty Creative (cables)
AIVAnet 